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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily May 26, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Current of Japanese shipowners】Anticipation is focused on transport needs for Simandou

　“I am keeping an eye on Simandou’s long-term contract.“　A dry bulk carrier official said this at an ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+am+keeping+an+eye+on+Simandou%E2%80%99s+long-term+contract.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+dry+bulk+carrier+official+said+this+at+an+office+in+central+Singapore+in+late+April.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Simandou+is+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+undeveloped+iron+ore+mines+in+Guinea%2C+West+Africa.+British-Australian+resource+giant+Rio+Tinto%2C+China%E2%80%99s+largest+steelmaker+Baosteel%2C+Chinese-Singapore+resource+and+shipping+company+Winning%2C+and+Aluminum+Corporation+of+China+are+among+those+participating+in+the+development%2C+with+shipments+planned+to+start+this+autumn.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+Rio+Tinto%2C+this+has+been+a+long-cherished+project+for+more+than+20+years+since+it+first+acquired+an+interest+in+2002%2C+and+after+going+through+the+turmoil+caused+by+the+political+upheaval+in+Guinea%2C+it+is+finally+set+to+start+operations+from+2020+onwards%2C+with+the+help+of+financial+support+from+China.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+iron+ore+produced+is+valuable%2C+high-quality+ore+with+an+average+iron+content+of+around+65%25%2C+similar+to+that+of+Brazil%2C+which+is+located+at+the+same+latitude%2C+and+is+an+essential+raw+material+for+green+steelmaking%2C+such+as+hydrogen+steelmaking+and+electric+furnaces.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+birth+of+a+gigantic+mine+with+an+annual+production+capacity+of+up+to+120+million+tons+could+lead+to+the+first+large-scale+newbuilding+charter+deals+in+a+long+time+for+iron+ore+carriers.+This+is+an+opportunity+to+demonstrate+the+results+of+our+efforts+over+the+years+to+strengthen+relationships+with+major+resource+companies.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+dry+bulk+carrier+official+mentioned+above+explained+why+he+was+paying+attention+to+Simandou.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+The+best+opportunity+since+S11D%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+the+dry+market+up+until+around+the+time+of+the+Global+Financial+Crisis%2C+those+involved+in+the+iron+ore+carrier+business+were+bustling+with+negotiations+for+long-term+chartering+between+resource+majors+Rio+Tinto%2C+Australia%E2%80%99s+BHP%2C+and+Vale+%28Brazil%29+as+well+as+steel+manufacturers.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+since+the+dry+market+downturn+that+began+in+2015%2C+charter+contracts+have+become+increasingly+shorter%2C+and+negotiations+for+steel+raw+material+carriers+are+focused+on+spot+or+multi-year+COAs+%28Contracts+of+Affreightment%29.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+newly+operational+Simandou+will+be+Vale%E2%80%99s+largest-scale+project+since+the+launch+of+its+Caraj%C3%A1s+Mine+expansion+%E2%80%9CS11D%E2%80%9C+%2890+million+tonnes+per+year%29+in+2016.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80There+has+been+a+history+of+intensive+building+of+400%2C000-dwt+Valemax+vessels+for+the+S11D%2C+and+Simandou+is+also+expected+to+be+involved+in+large-scale+newbuilding+programs+and+new+charter+negotiations+for+iron+ore+carriers.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+sea+transport+of+Simandou+ore+will+involve+transshipment+offshore+from+the+shipping+port%2C+and+the+main+vessel+types+will+likely+be+320%2C000-dwt+ore+carriers+and+180%2C000+to+200%2C000-dwt+Capesizes.+Winning+has+already+begun+newbuilding+program+of+large+methanol-ready+Very+Large+Ore+Carriers.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+dry+bulk+market+insider+speculates%2C+%E2%80%9CSimandou+is+a+national+project+for+China%2C+and+it+is+highly+likely+that+Chinese+shipping+companies+including+Baosteel+will+be+responsible+for+a+significant+portion+of+the+maritime+transportation+with+Chinese+interests.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80With+regard+to+Vale%E2%80%99s+S11D%2C+following+the+lifting+of+the+ban+on+Valemaxes+entering+Chinese+ports%2C+Chinese+shipping+companies+have+come+to+dominate+the+ownership+and+long-term+chartering+of+this+vessel+type.+China+has+adopted+a+%E2%80%9Cnational+oil%2C+national+shipping%E2%80%9C+strategy+for+crude+oil+and+is+promoting+domestic+transportation+using+its+own+shipping+companies%2C+and+it+is+expected+to+follow+this+same+policy+for+iron+ore+as+well.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+there+also+appear+to+be+opportunities+for+Japanese+companies+with+Rio+Tinto%E2%80%99s+stake+in+Simandou.+Rio+Tinto+owns+over+20%25+of+the+mine%E2%80%99s+overall+stake+%28over+40%25+of+the+southern+mining+area%29.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CResource+companies+place+importance+on+diversifying+their+portfolios+in+terms+of+stabilizing+shipments.+A+monopoly+on+maritime+transport+for+the+Simandou+by+Chinese+shipping+companies+would+not+be+ideal.+We+expect+that+charter+contracts+will+not+only+be+spot+and+short-term%2C+but+that+a+certain+portion+of+the+contracts+will+be+medium-+to+long-term.%E2%80%9C+%28Dry+bulk+industry+source%29%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Japanese+shipping+operators+%28operating+companies%29+have+a+history+of+long-term+charter+contracts+with+Rio+Tinto+for+Capesize+and+ore+carriers+since+the+2000s+and+have+built+a+strong+relationship+of+trust.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Among+Japanese+ship+owners%2C+Osaka-based+Santoku+Senpaku+has+a+track+record+of+signing+multiple+long-term+charter+contracts+with+Rio+Tinto+for+Capesize+and+Panamax+vessels+between+2010+and+2013.+Santoku+Senpaku+joined+the+ORIX+Group+last+spring%2C+and+with+Sojitz%E2%80%99s+shipping+division+also+joining+the+group%2C+it+has+strengthened+its+financial+and+trading+functions.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Country+risk%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Although+Simandou+is+in+the+final+countdown+to+going+live%2C+it+is+not+a+given+by+any+means.+Rio+Tinto+has+also+been+plagued+by+the+issue+of+country+risk+in+Guinea+for+many+years.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Guinea%E2%80%99s+government+said+this+month+it+had+revoked+51+mining+licenses+for+bauxite%2C+gold%2C+diamonds+and+other+mining+activities.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+decision+targets+small+and+medium-sized+mining+areas+that+are+not+in+compliance+with+their+license+conditions%2C+and+no+direct+impacts+have+been+reported+for+Simandou.+However%2C+this+can+be+seen+as+part+of+the+Guinean+government%E2%80%99s+increased+monitoring+of+the+resource+sector.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Simandou+is+at+the+forefront+of+a+new+frontier%3A+African+resource+development.+If+they+can+overcome+the+unknown+risks+inherent+in+emerging+markets%2C+this+could+be+the+first+step+in+capturing+demand+growth+in+the+African+continent%2C+whose+population+is+expected+to+increase+by+1+billion+by+2050.%3Cbr%3E%28Japanese+ship+owners+coverage+team%29%3Cbr%3E%3D+Posted+every+other+Monday%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E